by Lee Strauss
“But we were separated for two years. I know people shall talk, but I don’t care. I want you to be my wife.” Basil ducked his chin, “Ginger? I love you. Do you love me?”
“Yes.” The word came out as if a feather had caught in her throat. She gave it a second try. “Yes! I do. I do love you, Basil Reed.”
“So? Will you marry me?”
Ginger Gold loved Basil Reed, and Basil Reed loved her. This was the truth that resounded in her heart.
“Yes!” She threw herself into his arms, not caring that their wine spilled onto the grass. “Yes, I will marry you!”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
St. George’s Church was electric with anticipation. Red roses and white lilies filled the nave of the church, and candles spoke of the love and romance that the imminent wedding vows were about to profess. Felicia played the organ with more delicacy and efficiency than poor Mrs. Edwards could ever have achieved.
Ginger glanced at the ring on her left hand, marvelling at its beauty and how the August morning summer rays cutting through the stained-glass windows caused it to glimmer and shine like a treasure chest of jewels. She smiled at Basil and squeezed his hand. The last month they’d shared together had been the happiest days Ginger had experienced since Daniel had passed away. He would want her to be happy, and Ginger believed he’d approve of Basil Reed.
Mrs. Basil Reed. In time, she’d forget about the other Mrs. Reed and wear the title as her own. She’d miss being Lady Gold, but it was indeed time for new beginnings.
“It’s starting,” she said excitedly as the melody changed to the commanding tone that signalled the beginning of the wedding march. The bride entered the threshold, and everyone stood.
Matilda Hanson was radiant in her ivory gown. Following current trends, the gown hung loosely over her shoulders with a satin dropped waist and the hem landing at her ankles giving a full view of her white satin pumps. A crown-like accessory sat on the top of her head and from it, a long lace veil cascaded to the floor in soft white pools.
Miss Hanson’s father walked her down the aisle as the entrance music played. Oliver’s face beamed with pride and admiration, and Ginger was filled with joy for her friends. This was the better match.
Felix culpe.
Matilda’s personal trauma had led to her leaving medicine and taking up midwifery, an occupation she was ready to lay down for her role as a vicar’s wife. Theo Edwards unfortunate demise had led to Oliver not getting trapped in what was sure to be an unhappy alliance. Today Oliver and Matilda staring at each other with giddy, unconditional, and passionate love made Ginger’s heart soar.
Reverend Markham opened with an introduction about the purpose of marriage and God’s will for it. “Love is the gift and love is the giver. Love is the gold that makes the day shine. Love forgets self to care for the other. Love changes life from water to wine.”
The ceremony was beautiful. Oliver and Matilda exchanged vows as their friends and family looked on. Ginger cast a glance at William who had returned to London to stand by his friend. He sat with a pleasant looking woman whose face radiated with adoration when she stared up at him. Ginger smiled, feeling pleased for the captain.
Missing, of course, was the Edwards family. Ginger had refused payment from Esme Edwards for the work she’d done for the poor lady. She’d become a hermit in recent weeks, refusing to leave her home. Ginger had visited her a couple of times, but Mrs. Edwards had made it clear she didn’t want visitors.
The marriage register was signed and the happy couple knelt together for the final blessing before walking, hand in hand, down the aisle and out of the church doors as husband and wife.
Basil whispered in Ginger’s ear. “We’re next, and I can’t wait.”
His voice made shivers run up and down her spine. Their date was set for October. Basil had wanted it earlier, but his parents had convinced him to wait at least six months after Emelia’s death to preserve propriety. Oliver had agreed to officiate. Ginger and Basil wanted to keep their wedding simple and small—definitely not a high-society event, much to Ambrosia’s and Mr. and Mrs. Reed’s chagrin. She and Basil had already made their honeymoon plans for Scotland. Ginger had been a young child the last time she’d been to the northern country. Her imagination had concocted plenty of fanciful stories after having viewed the moorlands, and the many ancient and abandoned castles.
It was Basil’s choice to take the train rather than drive—a new, fast-travelling steam engine that ran from London to Edinburgh had recently been christened the Flying Scotsman—how extravagant!
Ginger certainly didn’t mind, so long as she was with Basil. Every day with him by her side proved to be a glorious adventure, and travelling by rail would surely be an exciting experience.
Besides, what harm could befall them on a train?
* * *
HEY, WHAT ABOUT THE WEDDING???
Good news! You are invited!
For fans of Ginger Gold and Basil Reed - this is the wedding you’ve been waiting for! The bride and groom prepare for their big day and, of course, things don’t go exactly as planned. Told from the alternating points of view of many of the beloved characters in the world of Ginger Gold, you’ll find yourself holding your breath, anticipating that happy ever after.
The Wedding of Ginger & Basil a companion novella best enjoyed after book 7 (Murder at St. George’s Church) in the Ginger Gold Mystery series.
This is a mystery, but not a murder mystery.
On AMAZON!
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH HALEY HIGGINS?
Haley has her own new series!
Death by Rum Running. . .
It’s the hot and humid East Coast summer of 1930 and five years since Dr. Haley Higgins’ brother Joe was murdered. The case has grown cold. The Boston Police Department may have given up on finding Joe Higgins’ killer, but Haley never will. She’s serious and savvy and has what it takes to hold up under depressive times. At least she finds some satisfaction doing her part as the city pathologist’s assistant in solving other crimes.
A man is found dead inside Boston’s oldest tavern—a “tea and coffee” house since prohibition became law. Another in a string of deaths related to underground rum running.
Haley doesn’t care for nosy reporters, and Samantha Hawke is no exception. Demanding and presumptuous, Haley tries to stay clear of the ambitious Sam Hawke, but it turns out they may just need each other to solve this case without becoming the next victims.
On AMAZON!
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WHAT’S NEXT FOR GINGER GOLD?
Life goes on for Ginger after Haley’s departure in MURDER ABOARD THE FLYING SCOTSMAN.
One must not lose one’s head.
One blustery day in October of 1924, newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Basil Reed travel aboard the recently christened Flying Scotsman, a high-speed steam engine train that travels from London to Edinburgh, for their honeymoon. With only one short stop at York, Ginger anticipates time with her new husband will fly by.
She’s wrong. Something terrible has happened in the Royal Mail carriage which forces the train to stop dead in its tracks. There’s been a death and Chief Inspector Reed has been asked to take investigate.
It’s a uniquely disturbing murder and Ginger and Basil are eager to puzzle it out together. What do the first class passengers have to do with the dead man? With another crime shortly discovered, Ginger and Basil soon realize they’re not dealing with a run-of-the-mill killer—they’re dealing with a mastermind who’s not done playing with them yet.
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Ginger Gold’s Journal
Sign up for Lee’s readers list and gain access to Ginger Gold’s private Journal. Find out about Ginger’s Life before the SS Rosa and how she became the woman she has. This is a fluid document that will cover her romance with her late husband Daniel, her time serving in the British secret service during World War One, and beyond. Includes a recipe for Dark Dutch Chocolate Cake!
It begins: July 31, 1912
How fabulous that I found this Journal today, hidden in the bottom of my wardrobe. Good old Pippins, our English butler in London, gave it to me as a parting gift when Father whisked me away on our American adventure so he could marry Sally. Pips said it was for me to record my new adventures. I’m ashamed I never even penned one word before today. I think I was just too sad.
This old leather-bound journal takes me back to that emotional time. I had shed enough tears to fill the ocean and I remember telling Father dramatically that I was certain to cause flooding to match God’s. At eight years old I was well-trained in my biblical studies, though, in retro-spect, I would say that I had probably bordered on heresy with my little tantrum.
The first week of my “adventure” was spent with a tummy ache and a number of embarrassing sessions that involved a bucket and Father holding back my long hair so I wouldn’t soil it with vomit.
I certainly felt that I was being punished for some reason. Hartigan House—though large and sometimes lonely—was my home and Pips was my good friend. He often helped me to pass the time with games of I Spy and Xs and Os.
“Very good, Little Miss,” he’d say with a twinkle in his blue eyes when I won, which I did often. I suspect now that our good butler wasn’t beyond letting me win even when unmerited.
Father had got it into his silly head that I needed a mother, but I think the truth was he wanted a wife. Sally, a woman half my father’s age, turned out to be a sufficient wife in the end, but I could never claim her as a mother.
Well, Pips, I’m sure you’d be happy to know that things turned out all right here in America.
Subscribe to read more!
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Note from the author
London County Mental Hospital
In doing research for the fictional mental hospital found in Murder at St. George’s Church, I came across this information about a certain asylum in Hanwell located eight miles west of Kensington.
It had all the makings of the asylum I had envisioned for this story. The size of a small town, yet a prison for the patients who institutionalised, often against their will. They were even called inmates in those days. The brick buildings were neglected during the Great War, and the same war left the country with a lack of finances to properly upkeep the hospital. The decay gives the sense of eeriness we often attribute to such places.
After I’d plotted the first draft and the ending scenes, I came across this tidbit. On 11 June 1910, nurse Hilda Elizabeth Wolsey followed a female patient who climbed one of the fire escapes and then along the guttering of the ward roof. She held on to the patient until help arrived - but unlike Ginger and Catherine Edwards - they were both lowered to the safety of the ground. For this act of heroism she was awarded the Albert Medal which was exchanged for a more suitable George Cross in 1971.
London County Mental Hospital was renamed Hanwell Mental Hospital in 1929 and again in 1938 to St. Bernard’s Hospital. It was bombed during WW2 and by 1950, was no longer operational.
Find out more at these websites.
https://londonhistorians.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/the-hanwell-asylum/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanwell_Asylum
About the Author
Lee Strauss is the bestselling author of the Ginger Gold Mysteries series and the Higgins & Hawke Mystery series (cozy historical mysteries), a Nursery Rhyme Mystery series (mystery, sci-fi, young adult), the Perception Trilogy (YA dystopian mystery), the Light & Love series (sweet romance) and young adult historical fiction. When she’s not writing or reading, she likes to cycle, hike, and kayak. She loves to drink caffè lattes and red wines in exotic places, and eat dark chocolate anywhere.
Lee also writes younger YA fantasy as Elle Lee Strauss.
For more info on books by Lee Strauss and her social media links, visit leestraussbooks.com. To make sure you don’t miss the next new release, be sure to sign up for her readers’ list!
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Books by Lee Strauss
On AMAZON
Ginger Gold Mysteries (cozy 1920s historical)
Cozy. Charming. Filled with Bright Young Things. This Jazz Age murder mystery will entertain and delight you with its 1920s flair and pizzazz!
Murder on the SS Rosa
Murder at Hartigan House
Murder at Bray Manor
Murder at Feathers & Flair
Murder at the Mortuary
Murder at Kensington Gardens
Murder at St. Georges Church
Murder Aboard the Flying Scotsman
Murder at the Boat Club
Murder on Eaton Square
Murder by Plum Pudding
Murder on Fleet Street
Lady Gold Investigates (Ginger Gold companion short stories)
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Higgins & Hawke Mysteries (cozy 1930s historical)
The 1930s meets Rizzoli & Isles in this friendship depression era cozy mystery series.
Death at the Tavern
Death on the Tower
Death on Hanover
A Nursery Rhyme Mystery (mystery/sci fi)
Marlow finds himself teamed up with intelligent and savvy Sage Farrell, a girl so far out of his league he feels blinded in her presence - literally - damned glasses! Together they work to find the identity of @gingerbreadman. Can they stop the killer before he strikes again?
Gingerbread Man
Life Is but a Dream
Hickory Dickory Dock
Twinkle Little Star
The Perception Trilogy (YA dystopian mystery)
Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans. Her brother Liam is missing. Noah Brody, a boy on the outside, is the only one who can help ~ but can she trust him?
Perception
Volition
Contrition
Light & Love (sweet romance)
Set in the dazzling charm of Europe, follow Katja, Gabriella, Eva, Anna and Belle as they find strength, hope and love.
Sing me a Love Song
Your Love is Sweet
In Light of Us
Lying in Starlight
Playing with Matches (WW2 history/romance)
A sobering but hopeful journey about how one young Germany boy copes with the war and propaganda. Based on true events.
As Elle Lee Strauss
; The Clockwise Collection (YA time travel romance)
Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this ~ she's accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.
Clockwise
Clockwiser
Like Clockwork
Counter Clockwise
Clockwork Crazy
Standalones
Seaweed
Love, Tink
Murder at St. George’s Church
© 2017 Lee Strauss
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.